Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, has given a surprise televised address for the New Year, calling for a "radical turnaround" in his country's moribund economy.

It was the first New Year's Day broadcast for 19 years; Mr Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, was rarely heard or seen by his people, preferring to deliver his New Year message in a joint editorial across the country's three main state newspapers.

However, the younger Kim likes to style himself after his charismatic grandfather, Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea who continues to enjoy huge popularity.

The 29-year-old made his address standing at a huge wooden lectern in front of two vases of what appeared to be purple Kimilsungia flowers, a type of orchid named after his grandfather. The more round and squat Kimjongilia flower was not visibly on display.

He vowed that North Korea would "open up a new phase" and make a "radical turnaround" in its economy in 2013, perhaps signalling that he is considering some of the economic reforms that have transformed North Korea's neighbours.

"Let us bring about a radical turn in the building of an economic giant with the same spirit and mettle as were displayed in conquering space," he said.

He also held out an olive branch to South Korea, whose new president, Park Geun-hye has promised new efforts to engage North Korea and an increase in aid.

"An important issue in putting an end to the division of the country and achieving its reunification is to remove confrontation between the north and the south," Mr Kim said.

"The past records of inter-Korean relations show that confrontation between fellow countrymen leads to nothing but war."

He added that it was South Korea's responsibility "to unclench its fist first, so that the leader of the weaker state can outstretch his hand."

Analysts were cautiously optimistic but warned that much of the substance of Mr Kim's speech had been heard before, in previous New Year Day editorials in the state media.

In a speech over Christmas in Seoul reported by the DailyNK website, Kim Young Hwan, a North Korean analyst and activist now living in the South, observed that Mr Kim has dithered over policies in his first year in office.

"They have been going back and forth over policy; bringing out a policy of a broadly reformist nature, then following that with an anti-reformist one," he said.

North Korea is notorious for making overtures at a rapprochement with the West, and with its southern neighbours, only to later renege.

Furthermore, the North Korean leader's speech was vague on detail, giving no clue about how precisely he planned to revitalise the economy but instead turning to jargon: "We must manage the economic map and management system to suit the demands of development".

The North Korean leader skipped the subject of nuclear weapons development, but praised the recent launch of a satellite and suggested there would be more military funding.

"The sector of defence industry should develop in larger numbers sophisticated military hardware of our own style that can contribute to implementing the Party's military strategy," he said.

"Only when it builds up its military might in every way can it develop into a thriving country and defend the security and happiness of its people," Kim said.

In one concrete sign of change in the country, North Koreans enjoyed their first major New Year's Eve celebration, with cannon fire and fireworks at midnight.